OHR BiH Weekend Round-up, 15-16/5/2004

NTV HAYAT  (18,55 hrs)

BH TV 1 (19,00 hrs)

FED TV (19,30 hrs)

RT RS (19,30)

Promotion of BIH in Hague

Election registration ended

Bjelica interrogated

Elections in October

Breach of journalist codex

Presidency’s visit to Iran

BIH visited Iran

Actions in RS MoI/Lukac

Old Bridge in Mostar

False pictures in Abu Graib

Property of former JNA

Dragan Covic in Zagreb

Eurovision song contest

Eronet won HT Mostar

False pictures in Abu Graib

Gypsy’s rights violated

Oslobodjenje

SFOR arrested Milovan Cicko Bjelica in Sokolac

Dnevni Avaz

Terzic points finger at Causevic and Dixon

Dnevni List

Dragan Covic meets Croatian Prime Minister Sanader: Croatia especially interested in economic cooperation with BiH

Vecernji List

Covic and Sanader – For European perspectives, but without comments on Hercegovacka bank

Slobodna Dalmacija

New border crossing regime at border with Croatia unnecessarily raises tensions among BiH citizens: Getting across the border with 100 Euros is regular procedure

Glas Srpske

Roof of Mocics’ house and walls of Jovics’ house demolished in Kotorsko – Welcome demolishers!; SFOR Press Release – Municipality inspected; Sokolac – Milovan Bjelica arrested

Nezavisne Novine

Sokolac – SFOR arrests Milovan Bjelica; Parts of two Serb houses were demolished in Kotorsko, near Doboj – Stones were thrown on inspectors; Replacements in RS Police – Radomir Njegus dismissed Dragan Lukac; FBiH Defense Ministry – Investigation starts; Gerald Knaus (sp?) – Reconstruction of BiH will not abolish RS

Oslobodjenje

Only nine out of 5,000 returnees have job

Dnevni Avaz

Counter-measures at the border crossings with Croatia

Dnevni List

Fifth anniversary of ‘Herceg Stjepan’ cultural association of Ljubuski: Night of folklore and customs

Vecernji List

Ecology: Salty water in Neretva getting ever so closer to Mostar

Slobodna Dalmacija

Features Croatia related headlines

War crimes

SFOR apprehended Milovan Cicko Bjelica

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 18 ‘SFOR arrests Cicko Bjelica’, by F, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 9 ‘Bjelica a Karadzic’s key man in eastern Bosnia!?’, not signed, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 4 ‘SFOR arrests M. Bjelica’, by bs,Nezavisne novine  cover and page 2  ‘SFOR arrested Milovan Bjelica’; Glas Srpske  cover page ‘Milovan Bjelica arrested’, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje  cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘SFOR arrested Milovan Cicko Bjelica in Sokolac’, Dnevni Avaz cover page, pg 2, FENA – Members of the Stabilization force in BiH (SFOR) on Friday approx. at noon apprehended Milovan Cicko Bjelica in Sokolac, confirmed the spokesperson of SFOR, Captain Robert Lapreze. He said that Bjelica was apprehended due to suspicion that he is supporting the indicter war crime suspects. Other details of the operation will be announced afterwards. Milovan Bjelica is also suspected of being a part of the network of supporting the indicted war criminal, Radovan Karadzic, i.e. of being Karadzic’s key man in eastern Bosnia. In addition, he is on the U.S. list of persons to which all assets have been frozen due to suspicion of supporting the war crime suspects.

RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Bjelica transported to a secure location’, FENA – “At mid-day on Friday in Sokolac, in a Multi-National operation, SFOR detained Milovan Bjelica, whom is suspected of assisting Persons Indicted for War Crimes (PIFWCs).  He is being transferred to a secure location for further investigation. The detention was undertaken in accordance with SFOR’s mandate. We believe that he will be able to provide further information on PIFWCs and the PIFWC support network in Bosnia – Herzegovina,” read the SFOR press release.

SFOR searched Bjelica’s house, other relevant facilities in Sokolac

BHTV on Saturday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pgs 4-5 ‘SFOR was interested in video security equipment as well’, FENA – Following the detention earlier on Friday of Milovan Bjelica, SFOR conducted a series of search operations in Sokolac. The searches, involving approximately 30 personnel from the Multinational Specialised Unit, are part of a continued operation against the PIFWC support network.  At 1530 hrs a search began in the Sokolac Municipal Building and at 1620hrs at the residence of Milovan Bjelica. SFOR confirmed that the wife of Milovan Bjelica had been informed of his detention and provided with a contact telephone number for further information.

Suspected Karadzic ally questioned by SFOR

TV Hayat, FTV, RTRS on Saturday, Vecernji List, Sun, pg 3 ‘Bjelica being questioned at ‘certain location’’, by Branka Stevandic, Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘SFOR questioned Milovan Bjelica’, SRNA – SFOR spokesman Robert Lapreze has confirmed that SFOR members have questioned Milovan Bjelica, who was arrested on Friday in Sokolac on suspicion of assisting war crimes suspects, and that the questioning will continue. In answer to a question about the legal status of the arrested Bjelica, who has been detained in a “certain location” under the control of SFOR, Lapreze said that SFOR will decide on this “after questioning on the basis of information it receives”. He warned that until SFOR’s investigation has been completed he could not speculate on whether Bjelica would be freed or handed over to the BiH judicial bodies or, possibly, the Hague tribunal.

SDS says arrest of Bjelica inappropriate

RTRS on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘Apprehension of Bjelica inappropriate’, ONASA – The Serb Democratic Party said on Friday that the arrest of Milovan Bjelica was inappropriate, and called on BiH and Republika Srpska institutions to secure all Constitutional rights to all citizens, including Bjelica. “The fact that Bjelica lost his job after being sanctioned by the OHR and that he lives in his home town is sufficient proof that he is not hiding or evading apprehension for questioning,” said the SDS, expressing its concern over the arrest. “We cannot accept this practice of the international community,” the SDS said. Bjelica, SDS member, was sacked from the post of the Srpsko Sarajevo City Assembly chairman under suspicion of assisting war criminals.

Srebrenica Commission

RTRS on Friday, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Three new mass graves detected’, by bs, Dnevni List, Sun, pg 6 ‘Existence of three new mass graves determined’, by NINA,Nezavisne Novine page 6 “Three more mass graves discovered”; Glas Srpske  page 2  ‘The 3^rd Report completed’, Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 8, FENA – The Srebrenica Commission has identified the existence of three new mass graves in the area on basis of the received information. On basis of all the received information 14 newly discovered mass graves have so far been identified. Further, the Srebrenica Commission has considered and adopted the Third Preliminary Report, which will be forwarded to the RS Government. The Third Preliminary Report includes the assessments on received documentation and information on the new graves. At its 14th session, the Srebrenica Commission ascertained that it is satisfied with the quality of received information from the relevant bodies and individuals in RS.

Ivanic, Ashdown on cooperation with the ICTY

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV, RTRS on Friday, TV Hayat on Saturday  – Mladen Ivanic, the BiH Foreign Minster, stated on Friday in The Hague that he expects BiH to carry out the reforms defined by the Feasibility Study and start the negotiations with EU on Stabilisation and Association Agreement by the end of this year. He estimated the problem of arresting the persons accused of war crimes and cooperation with the ICTY as the last BiH problem in the political sense. The arresting of the war crime indictees is very important for the stability of the country but that will not affect coming of the tourists to BiH, said Paddy Ashdown, the High Representative of the international community in BiH, to the journalists. Ashdown emphasized that moving of our country toward NATO and EU will mainly depend on the domestic governments.

Nezavisne Novine page 6 ‘Ashdown: Reforms in BiH are slow’; BiH will start negotiations for admission to Partenership for Peace at NATO Istanbul Summit, said HR Paddy Ashdown in The Hague. Ashdown warned that current tempo of reforms is to slow and that BiH authorities must speed up this process.

Economic/social/property affairs

Municipal Court in Mostar passes verdict: Eronet remains under Hercegovina osiguranje, Alpina Komerc and Grude Municipality

Herceg Bosna Radio, FTV on Friday, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, back pg ‘Court decides: Charges ungrounded’, by Antonela Vlaho, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Court decision in favour of private owners of Eronet’, also mentioned on cover, by J. P., Vecernji List, Sat, pg 3 ‘Eronet remains under Hercegovina osiguranje’, not signed, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 4 ‘HT lost at court’ – the Municipal Court in Mostar on Friday passed a verdict, which confirmed that the ‘Eronet’ Company remains to be owned by Hercegovina osiguranje, Alpina Komerc and Municipality of Grude. According to VL, the verdict rejected the claims of the HT Mostar (Croat telecommunication Mostar) that 51% of the Eronet shares were illegally transferred onto the abovementioned companies and Municipality of Grude. According to initial comments by representatives of HT Mostar, they will be contesting the decision.

BHTV on Eronet issue

BHTV on Saturday – After the Friday’s ruling of the municipal court in Mostar, by which was confirmed the ownership structure of Eronet, HT in trying to achieve the return of the ownership over 51% of Eronet shares announced lodging a complaint. HT and Eronet announced one more big battle. It is about giving of the third GSM license. Slavko Kukic, the former president of the management board in HPT Mostar, considers that the yesterday’s court’s ruling is only another development confirming that the judicial institutions in BiH are still not clear. HT Mostar announced a complaint against the ruling. Eronet announces expansion of activities and reducing of prices. In the court in Mostar there is one more dispute about selling of shares of Eronet to the Grude municipality. It was about the shares that belonged to Herzegovina Bank. And this will influence also the Eronet’s cabability to compete for and get the third GSM license. However, Branko Dokic, the BiH minister for the traffic and communications, considers that this company has just an equal chance to contest for the third GSM operator with the HT Mostar.

VL on behaviour of RAK in telecommunications business

Vecernji List, Sat, p 3 ‘400 million Kunas worth of HT’s investments into BiH endangered’, by Zoran Kresic and Robert Soldo – argues that the ‘Eronet’ Company, in which the HT (Croatian Telekom) has a 49% stake, is facing a new challenge in the fight for the third GSM licence in BiH after the Communications Regulatory Agency (RAK) has set out ‘unreasonable’ deadlines pertaining to paying of the concession and spreading of the network over the whole country. In that context, VL reminds that the RAK has given the three mobile-phones operators (BH Telekom, MOBIS and Eronet) in BiH a one-month deadline to acquire banking guarantees worth 140 millions Euros for paying of the licence and to pay the sum of 32 million Euros, the first instalment, this year. This triggers VL to say that the RAK’s behaviour is bringing into question the survival of all three operators in BiH, especially Eronet. According to VL, the biggest losers of all, should Eronet collapse, would be the BiH Croats, who would lose many jobs, and on top of that, the HT would not be going ahead with previously announced investments worth millions of Croatian Kunas.

Demolition of illegally built house in Kotorsko

BHTV, FTV, RTRS on Friday, Nezavisne Novine cover and page 3 ‘Inhabitants were throwing stones at inspectors’; Glas Srpske cover page ‘Welcome demolishers’, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Parts of Serb houses in Kotorsko demolished’, FENA – In accordance with the solution of the Urban Planning Inspection of Doboj Municipal Assembly, on Friday started the demolition of housing facilities that were illegally built by Serbs last weekend in the settlement of Kotorsko. Demolition of the recently built housing facilities was being conducted with assistance of over 200 RS police officials. Serbs from Kotorsko were protesting against this action. Tensions raised,  but there were no major incidents. Doboj attorney Sinisa Djordjevic, who is representing the Serbs from Kotorsko, said that the Decision of the Urban Planning Inspection of Doboj Municipal Assembly on demolishing of facilities was illegal and he announced pressing of criminal charges against the responsible persons in this department.

OHR on Kotorsko issue

Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 8 ‘Positive decision made by the Doboj authorities’ – The Office of the High Representative welcomes the decision by the municipal authorities of Doboj and the local police to uphold the rule of law with regarding illegal construction in Kotorsko. The RS Law on Construction Land makes the Doboj authorities responsible, like every other municipality, for authorizing any proposed construction and requires them to respond immediately to those who violate the law and building illegally. The Doboj Mayor has responded appropriately to the construction.  His proposal to take down those illegal structures was endorsed by the Doboj Municipal Assembly, at its May 13 session, and the OHR welcomes the action by the police today to implement that decision, said the OHR press release.   

Ashdown presents BiH’s tourist potentials in Geneva

ONASA/BETA – High Representative Paddy Ashdown presented on Saturday in Geneva the tourist potentials of BiH, stressing that “the war is history” and that the development of tourism should be in focus now. The High Representative will also hold similar presentations on Monday in Stockholm, on Tuesday in Berlin, on Wednesday in Paris and on Thursday in London. Ashdown said that BiH is a safe country now, in which police and judiciary have been functioning in accordance with European standards. He pointed out many possibilities in BiH for winter tourism, hiking, hunting, fishing and recreation. Ashdown also mentioned rich religious and cultural heritage in BiH and emphasized that the Old Bridge in Mostar will be officially opened in July this year.        

BiH Development Strategy presented to potential donors

Herceg Bosna Radio on Friday, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 17 ‘BiH requests 1.5 bn KM for the development strategy’, Dnevni Avaz pg 3 ‘Unemployment to be reduced by 30 percent until 2007’, FENA – Realization of the reformatory macroeconomic scenario from the Midterm Development Strategy BiH (PRSP – Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan) should by the end of 2007 restore the credit capability at the international market of capital, establish a functional market economy and enhance the capability of domestic economic subjects to be competitive on foreign markets, especially in the EU, reduce the level of poverty by 20 percent, unemployment rate by 30 percent and accelerate European integration. “We estimate that BiH economy should be self-sustaining by 2007, which means that it will no longer have to depend on the credits from the World Bank and IMF. Regarding the rate of economic growth, the macroeconomic projects we have designed in the Development Strategy tell us that in order to achieve these goals, BiH will in the period between 2004 and 2004 have to obtain a realistic growth rate of 4, 5 and 5 percent average, and sometime in 2007 it should be the highest and estimated at 5, 5 percent. This is approx. two percent more than now”, said on Friday the PRSP Coordinator, Zlatko Hurtic, at the presentation of the Strategy to international organizations and potential donors. One of the key aims of the Strategy, as he said, is creating of conditions for signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement and this is why the Strategy was designed fully in accord with the Feasibility Study and BiH’s aspirations for European integration.

Dnevni List, Sat ‘Ensure billion and half dollars or change PRSP’, not signed – the State coordinator for PRSP, Zlatko Hurtic, stated that one and a half billion US$ for implementation of the PRSP ought to be collected at a donors conference, otherwise the PRSP will have to be changed. According to Hurtic, the conference could take place in September.

Covic and Croatian PM Sanader about Hercegovacka bank case

Vecernji List, Sat, front page ‘Covic and Sanader – For European perspectives, but without comments on Hercegovacka bank’ and pg 15 ‘Against politics in indictments for HB’, by Deana Knezevic – Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, and Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, who met in Zagreb on Friday, are carried as saying about the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case and indictments related to it. “I do not want to interfere into the work of judiciary, not in Croatia, especially not in BiH. I just hope that the indictments and everything that happens around them will not be politically motivated”, said PM Sanader, to which Covic agreed.

Ljubo Cesic Rojs about Hercegovacka bank case

Vecernji List, Sat, pg 5 ‘I am also interested in what happened in Hercegovacka bank’, by Zdenko Jurilj – carries an interview with Ljubo Cesic Rojs, who has been mentioned in the media as one of persons likely to end up on extended indictment relating to the ‘Hercegovacka bank’ case. According to Cosic, if his name does end up on the indictment, he is willing to observe any court in the world, including the BiH Court, noting that he personally is in favour of getting down to the bottom of this issue. Speaking about the ‘Hercegovacka bank’, Cesic says: “Hercegovacka bank was a good project for the BiH Croats, behind which President Tudjman (Franjo, late Croatian President) and Minister Susak (Gojko, late Croatian Defence Minister) were personally standing. It was to be a bank that would not suck out money of the BiH Croats, but keep it there, in order to strengthen the economy”.

VL on Hercegovacka bank case: ‘Speed up Hercegovacka bank case’

Vecernji List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Speed up Hercegovacka bank case’, by Velimir Begic – the author notes that the ‘master’ (International Community) adopted methods of its pupils (underground that steals cars in BiH and sells them in Croatia) by taking away the Hercegovacka bank from the BiH Croats and selling it to people in Croatia. Begic goes on to say that for three years already, there have been stories about criminal activities in the bank although nobody has been convicted or concrete evidence presented. The author concludes the article by saying that the responsible should be found and punished and people given back their money.

Terzic points finger at Causevic and Dixon

Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz cover page ‘Terzic points finger at Causevic and Dixon’, pg 5 ‘Terzic: I am ready to accept Dixon and Causevic’s resignations’ – After a meeting of BiH Indirect Taxation Administration Director Kemal Causevic, members of the ITA Steering Board, and BiH CoM Chairman Adnan Terzic with HR Paddy Ashdown it is almost certain that the working materials related to the secotr of indirect taxation might be passed on May 18 and forwarded to the BiH Council of Ministers for further consideration. Terzic however believes that the meeting at OHR did not completely clear up things when it is about the ITA functioning. “It is completely clear to me who is responsible (for inefficient ITA work). If someone has to resign that the resignations should be submitted by Dixon and Causevic’, said Terzic.   

EC’s Daviddi on ITA

Sunday’s Oslobodjenje pg 7, mentioned on cover ‘Finance Ministers care more abouyt furniture than VAT’ – Head of the Political and Economic Department of EC Delegation to BiH Renzo Daviddi told the newspaper that the State and Entity’s Finance Ministers Ljerka Maric, Branko Krsmanovic and Dragan Vrankic were surely responsible for the lateness in the implementation of customs reform but that their resignations would just additionally delay this implementation.

Ashdown, Ivanic started promoting BiH tourism

Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘The time has come to travel to BiH’ – High Representative Paddy Ashdown and BiH Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic on Friday started a several-day European tour to promote BiH’s tourist’s opportunities by visit to The Hague.

Police/security affairs/investigations

RS police chief appoints new senior officers

RTRS on Friday, Vecernji List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Leader of RS special police removed’, by Branka Stevandic,Nezavisne Novine cover and page 5 ‘Dragan Lukac rejecs removal from the post’; Glas Srpske page 2 ‘Dragan Lukac refmoved from the post’, ONASA – Republika Srpska police director Dragomir Njegus passed a decision on Friday on the appointment of Milorad Jelisavac for RS Police Administration head, Pero Sakota for chief of the Crime Department and Ranko Vukovic for chief of the Special Operations Department, the Republika Srpska Ministry of Interior said in a statement. According to unofficial sources, Njegus sacked Dragan Lukac to replace him with Vukovic. Bosko Djukic has been appointed for Doboj public security centre chief, Aleksandar Arnaut for Banja Luka public security centre police sector, Macura Mirko for Gradiska police station chief, Mile Tadic for Derventa police station chief, Sinisa Kosoric for Visegrad police station chief, Drazen Erkic for Zvornik police station chief, Stevo Tomic for Prijedor police station deputy chief and Pavle Zugic for Zvornik police station deputy chief.

RS special police chief, deputy refuse to accept decision on sacking

RTRS on Saturday, Sunday’s Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on cover ‘Dragan Lukac refused to hand over the office’, ONASA – Republika Srpska (RS) special police forces commander-in-chief Dragan Lukac did not want to comment on Saturday on a decision on his dismissal and announced he will comment it on Monday, 17 May, the RS Radio reported. RS Police Director Radomir Njegus passed a decision on Friday on the dismissal of Dragan Lukac and appointment of Ranko Vukovic to his position. All the commanders of the Republika Srpska special police forces rejected on Friday a decision, adopted by the RS Police chief Radomir Njegus, on dismissal of RS special police forces commander-in-chief Dragan Lukac and his deputy Dragan Ribic. Lukac and Ribic refused to receive the decision on vacation that Njegus wanted to hand them, and they also refused to hand over their posts. “Njegus came in company with a representative of the European Union Police Mission (EUPM) to the RS special police forces headquarters to hand to Ribic and Lukac the decisions on vacation and handover of duty. He said he was doing it because of the political pressure exerted on him over the failed police operation aimed at arresting Milan Lukic in Visegrad,” a source told the Banja Luka daily Nezavisne Novine. The source added Lukac and Ribic refused to step down, since the RS Interior Ministry internal control still had not made conclusion on the failed raid in Visegrad.

Ivanic on SIPA and Entity MoI

Nezavisne Novine page 9  ‘Entity police will not be abolished’; BiH Foreign Minister, Mladen Ivanic, said in The Hague that entity police will not be abolished. Smaller part of their competencies will be transferred, Ivanic explained. SIPA is responsible for investigations in human and drugs trafficking, money laundry and some cases related to corruption, Ivanic said. He added that 95% of competencies would remain with entity police. Commenting on Deputy BiH Security Minister Dragan Mektic’s statement that establishing of joint police has started, HR Paddy Ashdown, said that police must be reorganized.

Agreement signed by EC and BiH Ministry of Security

Nezavisne novine page 5 ‘Expert for organized crime will get EUR 200.000’; European Union provided EUR 200.000 for the Polish expert who will assist in the next 18 months to BiH Ministry of Security to establish Department for the fight against organized crime. “Money will not be spent on his salary only. It will be used for some other activities as well’, said BiH Minister of Security, Barisa Colak. Other BiH media also covered the issue.

Investigation into death of Mirjana Trbojevic

Nezavisne Novine page 4 ‘Expert from Tuzla starts checking documents’; Forensic expert from Tuzla, Zdenko Cihlraz, has got documentation related to death of Banjaluka Basic Court Judge, Mirjana Trbojevic. Cihlraz did not want to comment documentation. He expects to finish his work in couple of days. Prosecutor’s Office will than decide on further action. It is not clear whether Mirjana Trbojevic committed suicide or was murdered.

Political developments/education/media

Covic meets Croatian PM Sanader

Herceg Bosna Radio, BHTV on Friday, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 4 ‘Croatia ready to help friends in neighbourhood’, by O. SRamljak, Vecernji List, Sat, front page ‘Covic and Sanader – For European perspectives, but without comments on Hercegovacka bank’ and pg 15 ‘Against politics in indictments for HB’, by Deana Knezevic, Nezavisne Novine page 3  ‘Croatia wants to co-operate with BiH’, Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘Special interest in development of economic cooperation’, Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Sanader supported BiH’s accession to PfP’ – the Croat member of BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, and Croatian Prime Minister, Ivo Sanader, met in Zagreb on Friday to discuss several issues, with the focus being on European perspectives of the two countries. In that context, PM Sanader said that in the situation when Croatia is getting closer to the EU, it did not mean that Croatia was “running away from the region, but on the contrary, its responsibility for the situation in the region is getting bigger”. Part of talks related to economy, Covic and Sanader, for time being at least, did not want to reveal in public. There was only an announcement that more will be known after PM Sanader meets his BiH colleague Adnan Terzic. Dnevni List, Sat, front and pg 5 ‘Dragan Covic meets Croatian Prime Minister Sanader: Croatia especially interested in economic cooperation with BiH’, by NINA – reports that Croatian PM Sanader said that he was happy with talks he on several occasions had with the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and representatives of BiH Council of Ministers, because, as Sanader puts it, the IC too is interested in harmonized solution to pending issues between the two countries.

Covic points to low number of Croat returnees to RS

RTRS on Saturday, Sunday’s Oslobodjenje pg 5 ‘There are lesser and lesser Croats in BiH’, Vecernji List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Covic: Less and less Croats in BiH’, by F, HINA – The Croat member of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, said on Friday evening that the number of Croats in BiH was decreasing and that Croat refugees were returning to some areas but not to the RS. Speaking to reporters after a concert in Zagreb, Covic said that the decreasing number of Croats could be explained by their position in BiH, and added that refugee returns to Republika Srpska were scarce and could be referred to as exceptions. Covic called on the international community to assist in enabling all Croat refugees to return to their pre-war homes. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic was also at the concert. Asked about political and cultural cooperation between Croatia and BiH, Mesic said he was satisfied with the steps being taken by the two countries, but added that much more could be achieved in those fields. Mesic drew attention to insufficient economic cooperation and the need for Croatian and Bosnian companies to establish closer ties for the purpose of joint ventures on foreign markets.

Petritsch does not believe BiH will be admitted into EU before 2010

Dnevni List, Sun, pg 2 ‘Petritsch: BiH in EU only in 2010’, not signed, Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘It is not possible to realise Terzic’s goal on accession to EU in 2009’, ONASA – The former High Representative to BiH, Wolfgang Petritsch, assessed that BiH could not be admitted to the European Union (EU) before the 2010, as wished for by the BiH government. “I think it will take at least two to three years for BiH to transit from the current prevailing international presence to a level that would describe it as eligible to join the EU,” Petritsch told the Vienna daily Standard. “For BiH to be able to join the EU, it is necessary that Bosnians finally start taking their fate into their own hands,” said Petritsch, assessing that it was not possible to realize the aim set by BiH Prime Minister Adnan Terzic for BiH to join the EU in 2009. However, he said BiH’s place was in the EU, without any doubts. “After the admission of the eastern European countries to the EU has been completed, the next step must encompass the southeaster Europe,” said Petritsch.

Busek: Vice-king Ashdown rules in BiH

Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 2 ‘Vice-king Ashdown rules in BiH’, ONASA – Stability Pact Coordinator Erhard Busek proposes determination of an exit strategy of the international community for Kosovo and BiH. Participating in debate at the Vienna-based Economic Faculty, Busek said that a vice-king Ashdown was ruling in BiH and that he doubted the international community was glad to be in Bosnia.

EC’s Humphreys on BiH’s road towards EU

Dnevni List, Sun, pg 22 ‘Republika Srpska must not be the brake which will slow joining into EU’, by Nebojsa Kolak – questioned to comment on the current political situation in BiH, the Head of EC Mission to BiH, Michael Humphreys, says: “We feel that, despite the progress achieved, it was not fast. It is evident in the defence, SIPA, tax changes and education laws, but not as fast as it could have gone, especially in the RS, where was the cause of delay of the process (…) For example, on the law on procurement, which is crucial if we are to go towards the European integration, we lost between two to three months because of the problem caused by the RS authorities. Then, there is the problem with cooperation with The Hague. If the cooperation is not improved, on one hand the progress regarding the Partnership for peace will be blocked, and on the other, the progress in joining the EU will be blocked. That’s the area in which more cooperation needs to be shown. Paddy Ashdown has set the conditions clearly some 15 days ago and now the ball is in the RS court”.

All Bosnian Presidency members pleased with visit to Iran

BHTV on Saturday – The main impressions of the BiH Presidency members after their three-day official visit to Iran are those of great economic progress and internal stability [in that country] despite a problematic environment. Notwithstanding the dense traffic and the pollution due to the large number of cars in a country where 10 litres of petrol cost one dollar, the streets are clean, there are no beggars. Sixty per cent of students at the numerous Iranian universities are women. The Presidency members were pleasantly surprised because Iran was different from what they had imagined. The opportunities of cooperation between Iran and BiH on the economic front are by far greater than those used so far. Among other things, the Presidency members visited the car manufacturer Iran Khodro, with last year’s production of 435,000 cars one of the 17 strongest car manufacturers in the world. Croat member of Presidency Dragan Covic: “I genuinely hope that car industry we have seen a factory producing around 500,000 cars per year, which speaks for itself can really absorb a good deal of our industrial capacities that are currently not being used. This is now a question of skill: this has to be done by our businessmen, this will not be done by our politics. But precisely this visit should create an environment friendly and diplomatic, if you wish for this cooperation to proceed as well as possible.” BiH could in the future be a promoter of Iranian economy in the region, and Iran could do the same for BiH in its own environment, the members of BiH delegation believe. Praising the hosts, Borislav Paravac said that Iran was the first country where he was not asked where Radovan Karadzic was hiding.

Ambassador Beecroft on education

Dnevni List, Sun, pg 26 ‘Orwell-like definition of equality’, by Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft – carries an article signed by the Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Robert Beecroft, in which he criticizes the HDZ’s behaviour in the area of education, since four cantons (2, 6, 7, 8) failed to harmonize respective educational laws to the state Framework law. “Refusal of the cantons, in which the education ministers are from the HDZ, to adopt the harmonized laws accordingly – and today’s sanctioned failure of the Central Bosnia Canton to adopt the plans for meeting another Council of Europe’s request, the unification of the so-called two schools under one roof – shows that the HDZ in theory accepts the state authority, but does not acknowledge it in practice (…) In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is exactly the supremacy of state laws over the laws on entities and cantons which can, ultimately, make sure that the constituent peoples and citizens-individuals are equal everywhere. It would appear that the HDZ is giving priority to the Orwell-like definition of equality: wherever the Croats are majority, they will be more equal than the others. Where they are not, they will ask for separate schools, if they can get them, and if not, then (they will ask for) the separate classes from ‘national’ subjects”, says Beecroft.

DL claims OHR applies different standards when sanctioning political parties

Dnevni List, Sat, pg 2 ‘Application of sanctions and adoption of laws’, by Ivica Glibusic – speaking about the failure of four cantons to harmonize respective cantonal laws on elementary and secondary education to the state-level Framework law on education and the subsequent reaction/statement by the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, and Head of OSCE Mission to BiH, Robert Beecroft, the author says it is clear that the laws in the matter will be imposed. Talking about the sanctions against the responsible, Glibusic argues that different standards are being applied: “Namely, if the Government of the Central Bosnia Canton adopted the proposal of the cantonal Education Minister, and the cantonal Assembly rejected it, one has to ask a logical question – why is only HDZ being punished, why not punish the whole coalition authority in the canton. However, the OHR embarks on separate sanctioning by applying different criteria because, if it were different, the sanction would be applied on the whole coalition authority since they did not manage to harmonize the law”, says Glibusic.

Stolac update: Mayor Obradovic suspends work on Stations of the Cross

Vecernji List, Sat, p 2 ‘Mayor: Stolac is no longer town case’, by Zoran Kresic – claims that after the flag of the BiH Croats got removed in Stolac in early May, a part of Bosniak ‘intellectual’ public has started a campaign the aim of which is to justify the destruction of crosses, trying to make Stolac a town-case again. Head of Municipality of Stolac, Zeljko Obradovic, did not want to comment on earlier statements by Nijaz Durakovic, stressing that the institutions will make sure that Stolac does not become a town-case again. “It is obvious that individuals are trying to put Stolac on the black list so it becomes a town case. Results on return of property and pre-war inhabitants deny the criticism against the town the best. When it comes to all disputable issues, I stress that everything will be solved through institutions of the system”, says Obradovic. VL argues that the crisis in Stolac is being generated by the ‘Sarajevo caretakers’ since the Stolac Bosniaks did not take part in recent destabilization of situation in Stolac. Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 3, mentioned on the cover ‘Construction of concrete crosses stopped’ also covered the issue.

Dnevni List, Sat, pg 4 ‘Works on construction of stations of cross suspended’, by N. Bise – Head of US Embassy’s Office in Mostar, Steven Fagin, was in Stolac on Friday, and according to the President of SDA Stolac, Kemal Isakovic, whom he’d met, Fagin was collecting information and considering facts. Fagin did not want to make any statements, however he announced that the US Ambassador to BiH, Clifford Bond, would be coming to Herzegovina next week and most probably visiting Stolac. According to DL, the Head of Municipality, Zeljko Obradovic, who is away on official trip to Croatia at the moment, issued a decision on suspension of all works on building of stations of the cross. “Competent municipal inspectors went on the spot towards the Krizevac hill, where the works on construction of stations of the cross have started, and we are expecting their report on Monday”, said Obradovic. DL learns that the President of BiH Commission for preservation of cultural monuments, Dubravko Lovrenovic, and FBiH Minister for Physical Planning, Ramiz Mehmedagic, will be coming to Stolac on Monday. Saturday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 9 ‘Federation Inspection will file report against the order-issuers’ quotes Mehmedagic as saying that the legal measures will be taken against those who ordered construction of the crosses.

Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 17 ‘Cross to become target of construction inspections?’, also mentioned on cover, by Ivo Raguz – the author argues that people of Stolac, irrespective of nationality, are concerned with the latest developments, wondering whether problems in Stolac will ever cease. According to Raguz, the amount of hatred towards the crosses and everything that does not belong to Islam is amazing.

Dnevni List, Sat, pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, an MP in BiH Parliament, Nijaz Durakovic, as saying: “Crosses in Stolac are part of a dangerous plan”.

Sunday’s Oslobodjenje cover page, pgs 4-5 ‘Only nine out of 5,000 returnees have job’ by Asaf Becirevic carries a story on poor economic situation in Stolac, alleged ethnic discrimination etc.

Circle 99 on situation in Mostar

Dnevni List, Sun, pg 11 ‘Divisions of cities cannot be future of BiH’, not signed, Sunday’s Oslobodjenje pg 3 ‘Mostar is divided’ – Association of independent intellectuals ‘Circle 99’ organized a public forum entitled ‘Can a city be divided’ in Mostar on Saturday evening, which saw discussion about experiences of Sarajevo and Mostar. One of participants of the public forum, professor Slavo Kukic, said that Mostar, when the war stopped, was an example of an anti-city with its 6 municipalities, adding that the new Statute was a step towards integration of the city, which restored hope in Mostar. As bad sides of the Statute, Kukic cited the six electoral units, which match the former municipalities. In that context, Kukic said it gave hope to some people that everything would return to the way it was, once the IC has left. Kukic also noted that the religious communities should play a larger part in connecting severed ties among the citizens. All participants agreed that divisions in cities in BiH were untenable, which cannot represent the future for BiH.

Slavo Kukic on PBS

Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 18 ‘FTV will shut down’, also mentioned on cover, by Miroslav Landeka – carries an interview with the President of FTV (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Television) Steering Board, Slavo Kukic, in which he points out some shortcomings of the Law on PBS as proposed by the BiH Council of Ministers, especially in the part related to the collection and distribution of revenues. “By analysing the financial plans for 2004, one can reach a conclusion, in case that the principle, according which 27% of overall revenues are to be distributed to the entity broadcasters, is to be applied, the RT RS will keep all the money collected in the RS, whilst the citizens in the FBiH will be obliged to finance both the FBiH RTV and BiH PBS. To put it simply, there is a question, whose is the BiH PBS. Does it only belong to citizens of the FBiH or citizens of the whole of BiH. The consequence will be a radical weakening of the position of the RTV FBiH, with the simultaneous strengthening of the other two broadcasters. The ultimate consequence could be, concretely, a definitive shutting down of the FBiH RTV and going back to two broadcasters –one in Sarajevo, the other in Banja Luka. The message of going back to the logic is more than clear – two state, two RTVs”, says Kukic.

Defence

Radovanovic on his recent visit to Brussels

Saturday’s Oslobodjenje pg 9, mentioned on cover ‘Abolishment of RS was not requested in Brussels’ – In an interview with Oslobodjenje, BiH Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic said he was satisfied with how he had been received in Brussels as the first BiH state defence minister who had visited the headquarters of NATO and EU. He was particularly satisfied with a fact NATO Secretary General had praised defence reforms in BiH as well as the fulfilment of the technical preconditions for the BiH’s accession to PfP.  

Dnevni List, Sun, pg 2 carries in its ‘Statement of Day’, the BiH Defence Minister, Nikola Radovanovic, as saying: “Abolishment of Republika Srpska was not requested at Brussels”.

Sunday’s Dnevni Avaz pg 8 ‘NATO has still not made decision on BiH’s admission into PfP’ also carries interview with Radovanovic on his recent visit to Brussels.

Deputy Minister Becirbasic says SFOR received names of new candidates

FTV on Friday, Vecernji List, Sat, pg 4 ‘SFOR received proposals of names of officers’, by dua – according to BiH Deputy Defence Minister, Enes Becirbasic, new proposals of names of military officers were on Friday forwarded to SFOR HQ for vetting in order to fill the vacant senior position in defence structures of BiH as soon as possible. BiH MoD expects SFOR to vet the candidates in the next 10-15 days.

Slobodna Dalmacija, Sat, pg 18 ‘Ivan Tanjic from Tomislavgrad to lead BiH Army’, also mentioned on cover, by A. Macanovic, Dnevni List, Sat, pg 6 ‘Brigadiers Esad Pelko and Ivan Tanjic new BiH generals’, not signed – Brigadiers Esad Pelko and Ivan Tanjic are new candidates for Commander of Joint HQ and Commander of Operative HQ of BiH armed forces. An SFOR spokesman, Robert Lapreze, confirms a new list of candidates has arrived to SFOR HQ for vetting. “We will carry out the vetting process with due care and urgency. We will not set deadlines for the process, but is it of utmost importance that the appointed persons are trusted by the IC, and by the people in BiH”, says Lapreze.

Austrian Press Agency (APA) on future EU-US military relations in BiH

Dnevni List, Sat, pg 7 ‘Americans do not agree to staying in BiH under EU command’, not signed – the Austrian press agency (APA) reports that US soldiers in BiH will not be a part of the troops under EU command, which are to take over from SFOR by end of 2004. APA says that around 800 US soldiers will remain stationed in Tuzla, adding that NATO is planning to open its office in Sarajevo, which will be run by a US general. “It is possible that the American general has one star on his uniform, and the EU general two”, the High Representative for BiH, Paddy Ashdown, stated for APA. APA also wonders whether the US Secretary of Defence will agree to such way of ranking. “Americans do not put their troops into subordinate positions to the EU command”, an anonymous EU diplomat told APA.

Investigation into FBiH Ministry of Defense financial operations

Nezavisne Novine page 4 ‘Investigation on crime in FBiH Ministry of Defense’; FBiH Policemen are taking financial documents of FBiH Ministry of Defense. Some former and present FBiH MoD officials are suspect of financial crime, confirmed FBiH Prosecutor, Dragan Stupar. He explained that join investigation of Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defense is ongoing. MoD Internal Control started it first. FBiH Financial Police Chief Inspector, Zufer Dervisevic, remined that his institution investigates MoD for years. “We can not get a lot of documents from the last seven years”, said Dervisevic. “Situation in FBiH Army is catastrophical. Soldiers have no bread to eat”, said Nezavisne novine source.